Group raises alarm over poor hygiene in public health facilities in Niger

By Ummi Ismaeel
Minna

Minna-based advocacy group, Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR), has called on the Niger State government to strengthen the Primary Health Care Delivery system for the benefit of especially women and children in the rural areas.

The appeal came on the heels of the government’s failed promise of improving the health sector.

The group led by its state coordinator, Kalejaiye Olasunkanmi, which visited the Director, NigerState Primary Health Care Development Agency (NSPHCDA), Dr. Yahaya Na’uzoduring, lamented that the poor sanitary condition of health facilities in the state was capable of Spreading infectious diseases.

Kalejaiye said that his team was not happy about the inadequacies at the Bosso PHC (Minna metropolis) with unhygienic injection and delivery room while another small room

having only three beds served as the only Ward for both male and female patients. He blamed the inadequacies on the failure of the state government to constitute a functional Primary Health Care Board for close monitoring and management of the sector, noting that, ‘preventing disease outbreak by maintaining high hygienic standards in PHCs is better than a more expensive curative measures’.

Kalejaiye also warned against politicizing issues about the board.

Kalejaiye further argued that PHCUOR advocacy team had been in the fore front, championing the cause for more efficient PHCs to make the system more responsive to the needs of the greater percentage of Nigerlites who live in the rural areas by urging state government to expedite action on life-saving issues.

The Director NSPHCDA, Dr. Yahaya Na’uzo in his response commended the PHCUOR advocacy team for the visit and for their supportive role in the promotion of quality and affordable health care delivery system in Niger state. Na’uzo nevertheless enumerated some of the challenges

faced by the Board to include not having the power to execute some statutory responsibilities because ‘the board members

have not received formal letters to enable us plan on the task before us’. Accordingto the NSPHCDA director, “We have the Deputy Governor as the chairman but we are waiting for the formal inauguration as people continue to ask questions about what and why certain things were not being done and what we are expectedto do.”